Liquid dispensing apparatus having a dispensing top closure



H. E. TELFER Nov. 4, 1969 LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS HAVING ADISPENSING TOP CLOSURE Filed Jan. 5, 1968 INVENTQR HENRI EVE EST TELFERUnited States Patent 3,476,295 LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS HAVING ADISPENSING TOP CLOSURE Henri E. Telfer, 7 Fitz Allen St., Port of Spain,Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies Filed Jan. 3, 1968, Ser. No. 695,376Int. Cl. B67d /64 US. Cl. 222-483 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis specification describes a dispenser for liquids, ice cubes and thelike in combination with a refrigerator or freezer door which is adaptedto be used without the necessity of opening the door. This apparatuscomprises a refrigerator or freezer door of the type adapted to containshelves therein. A container adapted to hold the liquid to be dispensedor the ice cubes, etc. is positioned inside the door, suitably on or inplace of a shelf. A small hinged door or panel is provided in theoutside front face of the refrigerator door which panel when openedpermits communication through the refrigerator door. Where liquid is tobe dispensed, a tap is provided inside the hinged panel whichcommunicates with the container. The tap is hingedly or slidably mountedin the door and operatively associated with the small panel so that whenthe panel is opened the tap moves out of its recess in the door toextend out therefrom and permit operation thereof to drain a part or allof the contents of the container.

Modern refrigerators, freezers and freezer or ice cube compartments ofrefrigerators are well known and common appliances which are in almostevery home. These appliances operate in a well known manner; that is thefood, liquid, ice cubes, etc. are stored therein and each time an itemis required, it is necessary to open the door, take out the desired itemand close the door. Where the item required is not fully used up uponits removal from the refrigerator or freezer, the same process isrepeated in returning it to storage. With some everyday items, such as,for example, milk, water, soda, beer, ice cubes, it is uncommon to takethe item out of the refrigerator or freezer without having to return thepartially emptied container therefor. Thus it will be apparent that thismode of operation is not only wasteful of the energy of the user but isinefficient with respect to the operation of the cooling unit since eachtime the door thereof is opened, warmer ambient temperature air entersthe refrigerator or freezer thereby requiring the cooling unit tooperate at a higher capacity to maintain the internal temperature thanabsolutely necessary.

. Thus in the case of items generally stored in a container in arefrigerator or freezer and drawn from the container on an intermittent,partial use basis, it will be appreciated that improvement in theoperational use thereof would be greatly desirable.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel refrigerator orfreezer door construction containing a container and a tap thereforaccessible from outside the door when the door is closed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means of dispensingcold drinks from the inside of a refrigerator without having to open thedoor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means ofdispensing ice cubes from inside a freezer or ice cube compartment of arefrigerator without the necessity of opening the door thereof.

Other and additional objects of this invention will become apparent froma consideration of this entire specification including the drawing andthe claims thereof.

3,476,295 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 ice In accord with and fulfilling theseobjects, one aspect of this invention resides in a novel constructionand combination of a refrigerator or freezer door, preferably of thetype adapted to have shelves hung therein but not necessarily of suchtype. According to this invention, a container for the item to bedispensed is provided positioned on the inside of the door, side orother readily accessible face of a refrigerator or freezer. In the caseof shelf containing doors, this container may simply rest on anappropriate shelf. A small openable panel is provided in the door orother face which is openable from outside of the appliance. A tap orother metering device is provided operably associated with this openablesmall panel and connected to the container by a conduit means adapted tocarry the item being dispensed. By opening the panel, the tap or othermetering device is moved, from its recess in the door, out to a positionactually outside the door or other panel. The tap or other meteringdevice can then be operated to dispense the desired item from thecontainer inside the refrigerator to a suitable container such as adrinking glass, outside the refrigerator Without the necessity ofopening the entire refrigerator door.

Further, it is an especially desirable aspect of this invention toprovide the recess which houses the tap or other metering device wellinsulated from the remainder of the refrigerator, freezer or otherappliance. By utilizing this type of construction, it will beappreciated that the tap is in reality outside the cooling zone of theappliance and therefore its use in no way interferes with or reduces thecooling efiiciency of the appliance.

It is of course within the scope of this invention to provide a singlecooling appliance construction as described herein with one or amultiplicity of containers and associated metering device for each. Asnoted above, some of the more common items adapted to be dispensed inthe manner described herein include milk, water, beer, soda, juice,punch, ice cubes. This list is intended to be illustrative and by nomeans limiting.

In the apparatus described herein the container is suitably equippedwith a downwardly directed spout means through which the material beingdispensed flows. This spout means may simply be the neck of a bottle orother container. Alternatively, the container may be attached to asiphon tube adapted to withdraw material therefrom. Still further, thecontainer may be under pressure in which case the elevation of thewithdrawal spout is immaterial to the operation of this apparatus.

The withdrawal spout is suitably connected by conduit means to ametering device which is itself operably associated with an openablepanel in an outside face of the cooling appliance. The conduit means maybe rigid, flexible or partially each. Thus in one embodiment of thisinvention the conduit means is composed of individually rigid memberswhich are pivotally and/or slidably connected together to allow a degreeof freedom of movement of the metering device with respect to thecontainer withdrawal spout. In another embodiment of this invention, theconduit means may be totally flexible tubing or the like. In a furtherembodiment of this invention, the conduit means may be of accordianpleated type and thus capable of movement in at least one direction.

The tap or other valve means or metering device is suitably mounted onthe openable panel for ease of operation. In the alternative, the tap,etc. may be movably mounted within the recess and adapted to bepositioned outside the recess upon opening of the small panel. Since thepanel merely serves a recess function, it may be very small indeed. Infact, it need not be significantly larger than the tap, etc. includingthe mounting therefor.

Materials of construction for the container, conduit,

tap, etc., openable panel, insulation and the various mounting andconnecting means will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in theart. For example, the container may be glass, metal, plastic, etc., asthe case may be. It is considered preferable if the container isremovable from its mountings inside the cooling zone so as to facilitatecleaning. It is certainly within the purview of this invention toutilize as the containers commercially available with the material beingdispensed, e.g. milk bottle, beer bottle or keg, etc. It is also withinthe scope of this invention to provide containers especially sized,designed and adapted to properly fit into predesigned and proportionedpositions on the inside of the cooling zone walls, i.e. refrigeratordoor.

The conduit means may be made of any of the known materials which areconsidered safe for use in contact with consumables. Thus polyethylene,copper, brass, pewter, galvanized iron, plastic coated metals such astin or aluminum, polyvinyl chloride, styrene-acrylonitrilebutadienepolymers, etc., are exemplary of these materials. No limit is intendedby this listing since the specific materials of construction do not perse constitute a portion of this invention. The conduit means should besized to accommodate the item being dispensed at a reasonable flow rate.Thus, it will be realized that an ice cube dispenser will probably havea larger cross-section than a juice dispenser.

Similarly, the metering device chosen should be adapted to the materialbeing dispensed. Thus for dispensing fluids, conventional valve meansare suitable which may have appropriately decorated exterior finishing.Further, a nozzle may be associated with the valve means if desired. Thevalve means will most likely be metal or metallized plastic material inmost cases since this type has ready commercial acceptibility. Plasticvalve means may be used if desired.

The openable panel may be slidably or hingedly connected to the outsideof the appliance face and may be made of the same or different materialof construction as this outside face. This panel may be constructed soas to be slidable on side mounted runners, similar to a drawer without abottom, with the valve or tap means joined therto in such manner thatwhen the panel is pulled out the valve is operable and the spigot isreadily accessible to a glass or other means into which the material isbeing dispensed. In this construction a flexible accordian pleated, ortelescoping conduit means may be used.

The openable panel may be hinged along the side thereof with the tapmeans secured thereto so as to be exposed to operation with anaccessible spigot upon the opening of the panel. In this construction aflexible or pivotally connected rigid conduit means construction can beused.

In both the drawer-pull and the side hinge type of panel opening thevalve is preferably top mounted in such a manner that the valve means isoperable from a top position.

The openable panel may be hinged along the top with the tap meanssecured thereto so so as to be exposed to operation upon opening of thepanel. In this construction the valve means is suitably side mounted soas to be accessible without interference with the panel. The conduitmeans in this embodiment may be flexible or pivotally connected rigidmembers. With the top hinged panel, it is preferred to provide supportmeans therefor. This support means may for example be side bars slidablymounted on either the panel or the appliance face which are pivotallymounted on the other (either the appliance face or the panel) member. Inthis regard, one or two such side bars may be employed depending uponthe size and weight of the panel and the valve means attached thereto.

In another embodiment of this invention, the openable panel may behinged along the bottom thereof with the tap means mounted thereon. Inthis embodiment care must be exercised in the mounting of the tap meansso as to provide that such will extend beyond the edges of the openpanel whereby to permit access to the nozzle or spout means thereof witha suitably sized container, e.g. a glass. In this embodiment the tapmeans may be mounted on the panel spaced a significant distancetherefrom so as to permit a suitable container, e.g. a glass to beinterposed between the tap and the panel.

In the alternative, the tap may be slidably mounted in its recess and solinked to the panel that when such is opened, the tap slides out tobeyond the edge of the panel. In this arrangement, it is preferred thatthe panel be hinged so as to be pivotable through about whereby the tapneed protrude out of the recess only a small amount to permit access tothe spigot.

In another alternative construction, the tap means may be slidablymounted on the panel in such manner that as the panel is opened, the tapmeans and spigot thereof move outwardly to an extent sufiicient topermit access to the spigot beyond the panel edges. In this alternativeembodiment, the valve means is suitably top mounted or may be sidemounted as desired. The conduit means is preferably fully flexible. Sidebar supports may be used in this embodiment. Where such are employed,they may exert the motor power for slidably moving th tap means intooperative position.

In still another form of construction, the panel may be mounted in sliderunners so that it can be raised or lowered or moved sidewards therebyto expose the tap means.

Understanding of this invention will be facilitated by reference to theaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away of one embodiment ofthis invention showing a storage container being positioned;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 showing the storage container in place;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged side elevations showing the operation of abottom hinged panel with an associated slidable tap means mountedthereon;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 and additionally shows a view infully open position;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are an enlarged side elevation and plan view of a drawertype of panel-tap means mounting;

FIGS. 7a and 7b are an enlarged plan view and side view of one type ofside hinged panel having a tap means secured thereto;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevation of a top hinged panel having a sidevalved tap means secured thereto;

FIGS. 9a and 9b are an enlarged plan view and side view of one type ofbottom hinged panel having a tap means attached thereto; and

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a dispenser according to this inventionhaving a panel and tap construction.

Referring now to this drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof,a cooling appliance outside wall 1, such as a refrigerator door forexample, is shown having a panel 2 in the outside face thereof which ishingedly connected 3 thereto. A recess 4 is provided in the wall 1insulated 5 from the remainder of the wall. A tap means 6 is slidablymounted on the panel 2 through an endless pulley means 7. A spoutreceiving means 8 is shown mounted on and in fixed relation to theappliance wall 1 passing through the insulated recess walls 5. Aflexible tubing or other conduit means 9 connects the tap means 6 to thespout receiving means 8. Pivotable, slidable side bars 10 are providedextending from a pivotal mount on the recess side wall to a slidablemount on the openable panel 2. The slidable mount is suitably aflixed toa pulley 7 which may be an endless belt or chain 11 wrapped around tworollers 12 and 13. The tap means 6 is attached 1-4 to an oppositeportion 15 of this belt or chain 11. A container 16, which is preferablyremovable is provided with a spout means 17. After the container isfilled with the material sought to be cooled and dispensed, it is placedin position on the inside of the appliance wall 1, suitably by restingit on a shelf (not shown) or held by hooks, bands or other conventionaldevices (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the spout means 17 is matedwith the spout receiving means 8 in a tight fit so as to prevent escapeof the contents of the container through this mating junction. Ifdesired, a valve (not shown) may be provided operative with the spoutmeans 17 so as to facilitate insertion thereof into the spout receivingmeans. A handle 18 may be provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the operation of the openable paneland associated tap means is shown in enlarged view. An openable panel 2is connected to an appliance wall insulated recess 5 through a hinge 3along the bottom edge thereof. An endless chain means 11 is providedabout rollers 12 and 13 which rollers are on axles 19 and 20 which axlesare mounted on and fixed to the inside of the openable panel 2. Sidebars are provided which are pivotally mounted 21 on the inside of therecess and pivotally mounted 22 onto one side of the endless chain means11. By so mounting the side bars 10, as the openable panel 2 is opened,the side bars 10 are caused to pivot about their recess mountings 21 andto pull the endless chain means 11 in a clockwise direction (as seen inthe drawing). As the panel 2 is closed, the side bars 10 again pivotabout their recess mountings 21 but in the opposite direction thuscausing the endless chain means 11 to move in a counter clockwisedirection.

The tap means 6 is afiixed to the endless chain means 11 at a pointthereon opposite the side bar and is thus movable with the endless chainmeans. It will be seen that as the panel 2 is pulled down the side bar10 causes the endless chain to move clockwise thus causing the tap means6 to move toward the right and protrude past the end of the panel 2thereby permitting ready access to the spigot 23 with a glass 24 orother container. Suitably a top or side mounted valve 25 is provided.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown an embodiment of this inventionwhere the openable panel is operable in the manner of a drawer. In thisembodiment the operable panel 2 is slidably mounted as at 26 on thesides of the insulated recess 5. The tap means 6 is afiixed to the sideslides 27 and 28 through one or more struts 29 so as to be movable withthe openable panel 2. As the panel 2 is pulled out, the tap means 6becomes exposed for operability of the valve means 25 and acces sibilityof the spigot to a glass 24 or other container. A top mounted valvemeans is utilized in this embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 7 there is shown another embodiment of thisinvention where the openable panel 2 is hingedly connected to anappliance face 1 along one or the other side of the panel, as at 30.This embodiment operates similarly to the bottom hinged embodimentdescribed with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 except that it is notnecessary to provide means for moving the tap means 6 past the panel 2since the panel, being side hinged does not present an obstacle toaccessibility of the spigot to a glass 24 or other reccpticle. In thisembodiment the conduit 9 may be flexible in which case the tap means 6may be mounted on and in fixed relation to the panel 2, such as bystruts 31. It is possible however to provide for pivotal, non-flexibleconduit means in this embodiment jointed at 32 and provide the tap means6 secured to the panel 2 through a pivotal slidable mounting (notshown). The valve means 25 may be side or top mounted as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown a still further embodiment ofthis invention wherein the operable panel 2 is hinged 3 along the topedge thereof. A side mounted valve means 25 is provided on the tap means6 with the tap means attached to the panel, suitably through a strut 33.Side bars 34 are pivotally attached to the recess sides and slidablyattached to the panel in a conventional manner. A friction or other typeof side bar locking means of the conventional variety may be used toinsure that the panel will remain open or closed as desired. The conduitmay be flexible in this embodiment.

In any of the embodiments described herein or variations thereof, it isintended that the operable panel constitutes a very minor proportion ofthe total area of the appliance face into which it is set. For example,this panel may be about 2 x 3 inches in a face which may be about 24 x60 inches. It will be appreciated that the dimensions given are forillustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting on this invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for dispensing liquids comprising a casing, said casingprovided with a compartment in the upper portion thereof, a removablecontainer within said compartment; a recessed portion in the casingpositioned beneath the compartment, a door pivoted to the casing forexposing and closing the recessed portion, flexible tubing attached tothe outlet of the container, a tap attached to the free end of thetubing, means to attach the tap to the inner surface of the door, and aslidable hinge means connecting the door with a wall of the recessedportion.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein, the casing is a door ofa cooling apparatus.

3. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein said material is selectedfrom the group consisting of water, milk, beer, soda, ice, juice andpunch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 790,483 5/1905 DeMartini 217-602,126,491 8/ 1938 McCartha 222-5 34 X 2,684,787 7/ 1954 Charpiat 222-529X 2,95 7,607 10/ 1960 Smith 2225 29 X 3,369,477 2/ 1968 Vittoe 222530 XWALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

